• A number of tourism hotspots have not been developed.
• There are airstrips that need to be worked on.
• It also needs to deal with product development within the sector.
Livingstone Tourism Association (LTA) has advised government to channel part of the US$ 100 million which Zambia is set to receive from World Bank towards unlocking the road infrastructure to enhance connectivity around various tourism hotspots.
Speaking in an interview with Money FM News, Association Chairperson Hillary Kashempa said there are a number of tourism hotspots that have not been developed such as airstrips.
Mr. Kashempa noted that although there is a budget for 2023 that seeks to address some of the infrastructure in the sector, it’s not enough as such works need to be done urgently in order for the country to start realizing its full tourism potential.
“I think part of the money should go to mostly unlocking the road infrastructure to enhance connectivity to various tourism hotspots. A number of tourism hotspots have not been developed. There are airstrips that need to be worked on.”
“I know there is a budget for 2023 to try and address those issues but obviously it’s not enough and we need to do that in a hurry in order for us to start realizing our full tourism potential. I think it also needs to deal with product development within the sector because product development is also product enhancement. Our products should meet proper minimum standards,” Mr. Kashempa said.
He added that in every destination, there are several aspects that need to be worked on especially infrastructure around the tourism hotspots, which must be brought to the minimum standard.
“In every destination Livingstone inclusive, there are a number of things that need to be worked on especially infrastructure around the tourism hotspots and brought up to the minimum standard because basically Zambian should be a world class destination when it comes to tourism,” he added.
Recently, Ministry of Tourism disclosed that Zambia is set to benefit from US$100 million World Bank loan to finance various Tourism investments.
